IPSA - International Partners for Study Abroad 

                       

Pre-Interview
Language Evaluation Task

                   

English Language School in Denver
CELTA Course


                   Please print out this form from your browser, 
                complete (print or type) and send it by mail to:
                          
                          IPSA Enrollment Center 
                          PO Box 7558
                          Cave Creek, AZ 85327-7558, USA 

                          or by Fax to: +1 (602) 942-6734



Your Name: ________________________________________________________________ 

Please complete the following language task sheet carefully. It will help us 
in determining your acceptance to  the CELTA  study program you have applied 
for. It is  also  to  help  you  be aware  of the nature of English language 
instruction  and  some of  the topics you will explore in training. The task 
will not be graded nor be considered part of the assignments required during 
training. It is not a test so you are free to  use reference books to assist 
you in responding to this. Please print it and handwrite your answers.

Some grammar books you may find useful for reference in this area are:

Practical English Usage, M. Swan 
English Grammar in Use, R. Murphey
Understanding and Using English Grammar, Betty Schrampfer Azar
Explaining English Grammar, George Yule

Please  return the task, with your application form, to the IPSA Enrollment
Center. We will then contact you to arrange an interview. 

There are seven parts to this task:

1. The parts of speech in English
2. The English tense system
3. Meaning and use of grammar
4. Vocabulary
5. Simplifying language in the ELT classroom
6. Pronunciation
7. Writing

The Parts of Speech in English


Identify the part of speech of the underlined word in the sentence.
Example.      They’ve always lived in Chicago.        Preposition

1. He is going next week.    _______________________________________________

2. Come quickly!             _______________________________________________
                           
3. I need a book.            _______________________________________________

4. It’s a gorgeous day.      _______________________________________________

5. She’s always doing that.  _______________________________________________

6. Skiing is a lot of fun.   _______________________________________________

7. May I offer you a drink?  _______________________________________________


The English Tense System


Identify the tense of the underlined verb.
Example.   He is going right now!   present continuous (or progressive) 

1. I will do it before I forget.    _______________________________________________

2. He has been there many times.    _______________________________________________

3. She went even though she was late. _____________________________________________

4. Do you know who he is?           _______________________________________________

5. How long have you been working?  _______________________________________________

6. They were doing their best.      _______________________________________________


Complete these sentences using the correct tense of the verb indicated.

Example. The phone  was ringing  when I came downstairs.     
                        ring

1.  If I _______________ about the party, I would have attended.
                 know

2.  Oh yes, I _______________ to Europe many times.
                   go

3.  I_______________ with this assignment by the time he returns.
         finish

4.  If it’s a nice day I _______________ .
                             attend

5.  While I ______________ he was mowing the lawn.
               sleep

6. If you simply _______________ to work, you’d lose weight.
                      walk


Meaning and Use of Grammar


Compare  and  contrast  the meaning of the verbs in the following tenses and 
sentences.

1.  He’s working now. ______________________________________________________ 

2.  He’s working tomorrow. _________________________________________________

3.  He works for IBM._______________________________________________________

4.  He’d do it if he could._________________________________________________

5.  He’ll do it if he can. _________________________________________________

6.  He’d have done it if he could have._____________________________________


How would you explain to your students the following words  that are part of
a grammar lesson and have similar meanings and functions: although, in spite 
of, however?

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________


Vocabulary


There are many  ways  to teach  vocabulary.  How  would  you  teach, explain, 
demonstrate  or  show  the  meaning  of  the  following vocabulary words in a 
beginner class?

1. run ______________________________________________________________________

2. serious __________________________________________________________________

3. interesting ______________________________________________________________   

4. ugly _____________________________________________________________________

5. purpose __________________________________________________________________


Simplifying Meaning


How would you explain the following sentences in simplified English?

1.  James was denied permission to board due to his refusal to extinguish his 
cigarette.

____________________________________________________________________________

2.  This minor inconvenience is, to the contrary, a major impediment to our 
success.

____________________________________________________________________________


Pronunciation


Take a look at the words below and decide how they are usually pronounced by 
native speakers.  Then mark  the  syllable that takes the main stress of its 
pronunciation.

Example:   facilitate

1. photographer

2. photograph

3. unusual

4. delicate

5. operation


WRITING


In 200 words or less, describe what  you think would  be  the  most difficult 
part of teaching English to students of mixed nationalities in the same class.
What would be the advantages? Please use cursive handwriting. 

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

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If necessary, please continue on a separate sheet.